CLEVELAND -- The Cleveland Browns will cut their roster to 53 players by 4 p.m. ET Saturday. Here’s a projection:
QUARTERBACKS (3): Baker Mayfield, Drew Stanton, Garrett Gilbert
Gilbert has performed well enough this preseason to warrant the Browns keeping three QBs. Coach Freddie Kitchens had experience in Arizona when rostering only two QBs backfired due to injuries. With Stanton being 35, Gilbert makes sense for this season, and as a long-term backup possibility to Mayfield.
RUNNING BACKS (3): Nick Chubb, Dontrell Hilliard, D'Ernest Johnson
Hilliard slid into the third-down back role when the Browns traded away Duke Johnson to the Houston Texans earlier this month. Johnson, who has quietly played well the past two preseason games, seems like a clear favorite to be the No. 3 back until Kareem Hunt returns from his eight-game suspension.
WIDE RECEIVERS (6): Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, Derrick Willies, Damion Ratley, Braxton Miller
After his rocky showing in last week’s preseason game, Cleveland surprisingly waved Jaelen Strong, opening up a spot in the receiving rotation, at least until Antonio Callaway returns from his four-game suspension. Former Ohio State star Braxton Miller, whom the Browns just signed last week, will get a long look for the final spot in Thursday’s preseason game against the Detroit Lions.
TIGHT ENDS (3): David Njoku, Demetrius Harris, Pharaoh Brown
The Browns recently brought in Dallas Cowboys castoff Rico Gathers, but he must sit out the first week with a suspension. Incumbent Seth DeValve, recently back from a concussion, will get a strong look, but Brown has gotten the most consistent time with the first-team offense.
OFFENSIVE LINE (9): Greg Robinson, Joel Bitonio, JC Tretter, Eric Kush, Chris Hubbard, Austin Corbett, Kendall Lamm, Drew Forbes, Brad Seaton
Kush has effectively won the starting right guard job, which has shifted Corbett to backup center. The final spot in the rotation, however, remains up for grabs. Undrafted rookie Willie Warren, Bryan Witzmann and Kyle Kalis, who's missed considerable time with a concussion, are all options inside. But Seaton, a tackle who brings intriguing size with his 6-foot-9, 330-pound frame, could be in line for that final nod.
DEFENSIVE LINE (9): Myles Garrett, Larry Ogunjobi, Sheldon Richardson, Olivier Vernon, Chad Thomas, Chris Smith, Devaroe Lawrence, Trevon Coley, Daniel Ekuale
As Friday's preseason game at Tampa Bay underscored, the Browns have a chance to feature one of the most disruptive starting defensive lines in the league. Yet after the top four, this position is largely untested and unproven. Ekuale gets the last spot here over end Anthony Zettel, with listed LB Genard Avery being a de facto rush end.
LINEBACKERS (7): Christian Kirksey, Joe Schobert, Genard Avery, Adarius Taylor, Sione Takitaki, Mack Wilson, Ray-Ray Armstrong
Kirksey and Schobert are the current starters. Wilson and Takitaki are the future ones. Avery is really a pass-rushing specialist. Taylor will play in 4-3 alignments. Armstrong is a reliable special teams cog.
SECONDARY (10): Denzel Ward, Terrance Mitchell, Greedy Williams, Damarious Randall, Morgan Burnett, T.J. Carrie, Eric Murray, Jermaine Whitehead, Sheldrick Redwine, Juston Burris
The Browns will be in the 4-2-5 alignment most often, which means a starting job for Whitehead, and a 53-man spot for Burris. Cleveland could also cash in a defensive lineman for an extra corner, which would likely be Phillip Gaines or possibly even Lenzy Pipkins.
SPECIALISTS (3): Austin Seibert, Britton Colquitt, Charley Hughlett
Going into last weekend, Greg Joseph was probablhy ahead of Seibert, which had a lot more to do with Seibert than Joseph, who has also struggled this preseason. But then Seibert nailed all four field-goal attempts in the preseason game at Tampa, including a career-high 54-yarder. The Browns did expend a fifth-round pick on Seibert. The combination of that, and his preseason performance in Tampa, could be enough to give Seibert the nod -- provided the Browns don't add another kicker.